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crickett...at my son's public school, there is so much pressure to "conform" and "be cool". He wasn't really free to be himself. He had only one close friend who was a guy; he was a superstar athlete and a good student ( a combo that is not prevalent at his public school - most of the high profile athletes are football players, and it is not "cool" for them to excel academically). His best sport (soccer) was not a biggie at his school, either. He fit in best with his club soccer team, who tended to be high achievers in the classroom as well, like himself. However, this was not a local team, so he never got to interact with these guys at school. He felt lonely, angry, and frustrated (even in middle school). He is like a new person at bs. Happy and excited about his classes, his friends, etc. We have met his friends (several times) and have had a few over for visits already. They are such nice young people and seem more "innocent" than his public school peers.
Having extra responsibilites (i.e. laundry) does not really "toughen you up" and as far a hard classes, I would think that in your public hs you would take the most challenging course load (right?). The difference at the preps, is that all of the courses are the challenging ones and everyone is there to partake of that.
On the topic of missing family....I am a big proponent of "absence makes the heart grow fonder". I think this is strengthening our relationship. Albeit, we get to see my son fairly frequently as the school is only an hour away. He maintains daily contact with his siblings via facebook/AIM (which he just found out he can use)/and his cell phone. They are always trading pictures, etc. (they all have webcams). I think they all get along better now that they are not together everyday. Christmas break was so much fun...the three of them did stuff together all the time (movies, bowling, skiing)....they never spent that much time together before.
My eldest graduated (as I have stated a few times before) 5 years ago from the same bs (NMH). He definitely did not feel any loss of innocence or childhood. Like his brother, he was energized by his experience and freed from the perceived necessity to somehow "conform" at public school. He (my eldest) particulary enjoyed having relevant associations with his teachers and this got him labeled as a "goody two shoes" in middle school. He was thrilled to get out of that situation and go to a place where getting along with instructors, even dining with them, was acceptable and normal. He would have probably been an angry and unhappy young man had he remained at our local public hs.
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